Compensatory contribution of Cav2.3 channels to acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction of tottering mice

J Neurophysiol. 2006 Apr;95(4):2698-704. doi: 10.1152/jn.01221.2005. Epub 2005 Dec 28.

Abstract

Tottering (Tg) mice carry the mutation P601L in their Cacna1a encoded Cav2.1 channels. Transmitter release at the wild-type neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is almost exclusively mediated by Cav2.1 channels, and we used this model synapse to study synaptic consequences of the Tg mutation. With electrophysiology, and using subtype-specific Cav2 channel-blocking toxins, we assessed a possible compensatory contribution of non-Cav2.1 channels to evoked acetylcholine (ACh) release at Tg NMJs. Release was reduced by approximately 75% by the Cav2.1 channel blocker omega-agatoxin-IVA, which was less than the approximately 95% reduction observed in wild-type. Release at Tg NMJs, but not at wild-type synapses, was reduced by approximately 15% by SNX-482, a Cav2.3 channel blocker. No Cav2.2 channel involvement was found. Probably, there is a small reduction in functional presynaptic Cav2.1 channels at Tg NMJs, which is compensated for by Cav2.3 channels. The remaining Cav2.1 channels are likely to convey enlarged Ca2+ flux, because evoked ACh release at Tg NMJs, at low extracellular Ca2+ concentration, was approximately sixfold higher than at wild-type NMJs. This is the first report of compensatory expression of non-Cav2.1 channels at NMJs of mice with a single amino acid change in Cav2.1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / metabolism*
  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Animals
  • Calcium / analysis
  • Calcium / pharmacology
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Calcium Channels, N-Type / analysis
  • Calcium Channels, N-Type / physiology
  • Calcium Channels, P-Type / genetics*
  • Calcium Channels, P-Type / physiology
  • Calcium Channels, Q-Type / genetics*
  • Calcium Channels, Q-Type / physiology
  • Calcium Channels, R-Type / physiology*
  • Cation Transport Proteins / physiology*
  • Electrophysiology
  • Evoked Potentials / drug effects
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Mutation
  • Neuromuscular Junction / chemistry
  • Neuromuscular Junction / drug effects
  • Neuromuscular Junction / genetics
  • Neuromuscular Junction / metabolism*
  • Spider Venoms / pharmacology
  • Synapses / physiology
  • omega-Agatoxin IVA / pharmacology

Substances

  • Cacna1b protein, mouse
  • Cacna1e protein, mouse
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Calcium Channels, N-Type
  • Calcium Channels, P-Type
  • Calcium Channels, Q-Type
  • Calcium Channels, R-Type
  • Cation Transport Proteins
  • SNX 482
  • Spider Venoms
  • omega-Agatoxin IVA
  • voltage-dependent calcium channel (P-Q type)
  • Acetylcholine
  • Calcium